Posted:
...Even if, or rather, especially if, it's not yours. That's the masterclass that Laila handed out tonight to PaRud, just in case their efforts in that direction were falling short. Here then are the seven rules of reigniting a romance that Laila adopted that unfortunately didn't quite work in the way she intended:
#1. Provoke Comparison with His Current Flame: An iffy one at the best of times. But possibly the worst strategy if you haven't considered that it might show you up in a bad light. There was Laila counting on Rudra's Modus Operandi of protecting all female targets of Tejawat's ire by hoping for his personal protection, and here it made Rudra scoff at the very idea that the devious, tough, jaded, woman-of-the-world who was Laila should receive the same consideration as his Paro. His innocent, fragile, butterfly-like wife who was...special. A compliment not lost on his nevertheless very quick-on-the-uptake spouse going by the glow in her eyes.
#2. Add Adventure to Intimacy: A tried and tested way to re-invigorate an old relationship and, unfortunately for Laila, also a great way to fan the flames of a new one. As PaRud found out to their mutual excitement and arousal when Laila took over their bedroom and forced them out into the open for part of their nightly routine. Forced Rudra to seek the questionable privacy of a pillar behind which to change into his night-suit just feet away from his shy, virginal wife, whose eyes nevertheless darted sideways every so often. Catching, accidentally of course, a glimpse of taut and toned male flesh flexing and bunching in its rather self-conscious, but no less pleasurable, exertions as the hyper-aware owner put them through their paces and changed.
#3. Make Time for Play: Another golden rule of relationship building annexed effortlessly by Paro as she played hand-hooky with Rudra, pressing and running her fingers up and down his palm, under the guise of working out his pain. Although, the purity of her intentions could not be doubted after the chants she repeated at Rudra's urging turned out to be a child's rhyme to wipe out his pain. Melting Rudra's heart a little bit more and leaving him charmed and falling deeper under the spell of this child-woman he had married.
#4. Remind Him How Special You Are: A failsafe except that in Rudra's case it was Paro who grabbed with both hands the opportunity presented by Laila's miscalculation and asked Rudra straight out why he'd said she was different from Laila. So different that he had to take her under his personal protection. Leaving Rudra with no choice but to confirm that she was indeed different.
And further cementing that difference by making both their hearts beat faster when he caught and held her to him after she tripped and would have fallen but for his lightning-fast reflexes. And then attempted to convert that stumble into the reason she needed his constant protection. Such a paper-thin effort that it brought a smile to her face when she realised he'd rather fabricate an excuse than favour her with the real reason.
#5. Let Your Rival Know You Love her husband: It's always good to scare off the rival with declarations of love for her man...unless of course the rival is Paro. Because Paro sympathised with Laila and let her remain in the haveli. And when Rudra realised that Paro had known about Laila's feelings it spurred him to wonder at his wife's actions, inadvertently acknowledging her as his wife. An acknowledgement that made Paro so happy she couldn't stop smiling. And an acceptance that boosted her confidence so much that she dismissed any threat to their relationship, and instead blessed Laila for turning up.
#6. Occupy Their Marital Bed: A strategic move, usually. Except when it forced PaRud into sharing a bed, which they might have been undecided about. Sharing a bed, that is, with enough intimacy to make Laila's eyes water: the ram-rod straight positions of initial awkwardness, the averted eyes that swept back to linger on the wife the moment her back was turned, the arm that reached out in his sleep to touch her, the hand that lay in wait to cushion her head should it fall off the pillow, that cradled her cheek when she did indeed turn, wake up, and register it, and return, after gazing upon him for a thoughtful moment, to sweet dreams with her head pillowed in it as she had once before.
But not before covering his trembling right hand with her own in a touch that woke him up and gave him reassurance and pleasure in her simple gesture so that he let both hands remain where they were and returned to sweet slumber.
#7. Get A Makeover: Always a good idea to try a new look...unless it makes you look like his wife. And then all the sudden holiness, conch-blowing, respectability can only serve to heighten the chasm between the real queen of hearts and the pretender. Between Paro and Laila.
Tonight the CVs gave us a superb episode full of romance and rivalry. The romance - tender, heart-warming and little bit naughty - sparked by Laila taking up residence in the haveli and in PaRud's life for the moment. For now, Laila's return has only strengthened the PaRud relationship by forcing Rudra to acknowledge to himself and to Paro that she is special and that she is his wife. Laila, unwittingly, also fanned the flames of PaRud's romance as Paro and Rudra, forced into sharing a bed for the first time since Jaipur, returned to the familiarity they had grown into during that trip.
The rivalry, both with Paro and Kakisa, has not paid off yet for Laila. Tonight we saw Laila and Kakisa, two dominating women, jockeying for position, neither willing to be ruled by the other. For the moment, it's Kakisa's show, but Kakisa is now aware of the mare-in-heat she has in Laila, one that is already jibbing at the bit. Kakisa may think she has the upper hand, but the moment that Laila finds things not going to her plan is the moment when the plan goes haywire. But Kakisa has reckoned without Laila's love for Rudra, a love so obsessive that she will destroy anything that endangers it, such as someone who has attempted to poison Rudra. Hopefully someone will answer Laila's question about what happened to Rudra's right arm. Soon.
Today, in addition to the story, the dialogues and screenplay which were all exemplary, the background score caught my ears. Absolutely spot-on and in line with the emotion being highlighted - such as the guitar during the scene when Rudra was changing his clothes, which was unobtrusive but perfect.
Acting wise - pleasing performances from Ashish and Sanaya. Much to smile about there. Superbly controlled acting by Ananya decently-matched by Ankita, barring the odd shoulder-shake. ššš To them and to the entire cast and crew for a lovely episode.
Looking forward to tomorrow night and more romance!
Cryptocurrency
Book Talk
Anupamaa
Cricket
Health and Fitness
